Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Diego Pinera Trio: My Picture

Diego Pinera Trio: My Picture

By Mark Sullivan
August 13, 2017
View read count

Berlin-based drummer/composer

Diego Pinera

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Diego Pinera steps out for an ambitious trio program with saxophonist

Mark Turner

saxophone, tenor
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Turner and bassist

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Street. Pinera was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, but has lived in Germany since 2003. He studied at the Berklee College of Music (U.S.), the University of Music in Havana (Cuba), and the University of Music and Theater in Leipzig (Germany): he gets around.

Latin jazz is his core interest, but this music is simply creative contemporary jazz, sometimes with a "Latin tinge." Turner has played in this format extensively as part of the Fly trio with bassist

Larry Grenadier

bass, acoustic
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Grenadier and drummer

Jeff Ballard

drums
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Ballard, and Street has an especially extensive resume—so it is not surprising that they prove to be sympathetic, resourceful playing partners. Pinera is also a member of pianist/composer Sebastian Schunke's Berlin quartet, and appears on Genesis, Mystery And Magic (Nwog Records, 2014).

Pinera composed most of the tunes. His "Open Window" starts the set, a fast opener featuring call and response between saxophone and bass on the head, with busy, chattering drum accents underneath. It establishes the active, conversational sound of the trio. Pinera often writes long lines which the other players follow, weaving in and out: they provide a more distinctive compositional structure than playing on changes. "Cuidado" (Caution) works this way, as do "Today" (the ballad of the set) and the title tune (which has creative brush work from the leader).

"The New One" opens with a lengthy drum solo—Pinera stretching out before introducing another distinctive theme. The covers provide contrast. The arrangement of

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk's "Evidence" places a distinctive Latin rhythm under the head. The standard "The Song Is You" (by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II) closes the album with a swing feel, although it is no less conversational than the originals.

The album title My Picture is literal: Pinera also painted the cover image. But it's a much fuller picture than that, with his composing, drumming, and band leading also taking center stage. And this triangle is equilateral, with all three members actively contributing.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Open Window; Cuidado; New Hope; Evidence; Today; Bart; My Picture; The New One; The Song Is You.

Personnel

Diego Pinera

drums

Mark Turner, saxophone; Ben Street, double bass; Diego Pinera: drums.

Album information

Title: My Picture | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Octason Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Ranky Tanky
< Previous

The Art (de Vivre) of the Trio
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.